Maryland medical marijuana sales surpassing forecast

In this Sept. 24, 2018 photo, different strains of marijuana are displayed for sale at the Warmland Centre, a medical marijuana dispensary in Mill Bay, British Columbia on Vancouver Island in Canada. On Oct. 17, 2018, Canada will become the second and largest country with a legal national marijuana marketplace, forcing many dispensaries, including Warmland, to close temporarily until they receive licenses under the new recreational system. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Medical marijuana sales in Maryland are surpassing a previous forecast and could reach $100 million this year.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Medical marijuana sales in Maryland are surpassing a previous forecast and could reach $100 million this year.

The Baltimore Sun reports that medical marijuana sales totaled $67 million for the first nine months of 2018.

A market research firm predicted last year that the state’s sales in 2018 would be about $46 million. New Frontier Data Senior Economist Beau Whitney said sales could now hit $100 million in December.

State lawmakers have expressed concern that the state’s new medical marijuana industry could be dominated by a handful of big companies. Lawmakers approved legislation earlier this year aimed at improving diversity in the industry by increasing the number of grower licenses and licenses to process marijuana.

It moved fast, but it hit hard -- a line of strong thunderstorms passed through the D.C. area Thursday afternoon, bringing downed power lines and outages. The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in Howard County, Maryland. See photos.